first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
decoration; ornament; trimmings
New Year's decoration of willow, etc. branches with colored rice balls
to shake; to jolt; to rock (cradle); to swing
January; first month of the lunar calendar
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
decorating shrines and gates with shimenawa ropes for the New Year
pine tree (Pinus spp.); highest (of a three-tier ranking system)
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
alighting (from a train, bus, etc.); getting off; getting out (of a car)
lucky-dip bag; grab bag; mystery package (with a variety of articles possibly worth more than the purchase price)
New Year's sake; spiced sake
happy; auspicious; propitious; naive
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
resuming work after the New Year's vacation; first time that one works in the year
meeting together; introduction; costarring; appearing together; being matched; facing off
New Year's pine decoration
dressing in kimono without hakama (for a man); dressing casually
haori (Japanese formal coat)
hakama; man's formal divided skirt
full dress; formal dress; uniform
personality; style; appearance
middle-aged woman who looks very young for her age (as through "magic")
bright green; chartreuse green
going to work; leaving for work; attendance (at work); being at work; presence (in the office); reporting for work
wearing (e.g. uniform, seat belt); having on
long kimono; ankle-length traditional Japanese garment
tightly; exactly; precisely; close-fitting (e.g. suit); firm (body); lean
white-coloured skin; vitiligo; leucoderma; leukoderma
romantic; spicy; coquettish
cloth; fabric; dough; batter; inherent quality; one's true character; unglazed pottery
light (e.g. colour, color)
to inlay; to set; to stud (e.g. star-studded sky); to enchase (something) with; to mount (gems)
light pink; light crimson